Button feeding and positioning device for sewing machines

ABSTRACT

This device automatically orients and positions &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;sewthrough&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;type buttons in the clamping jaws of a high-speed button-sewing machine so that a button is properly positioned to be sewn during each sewing cycle. The buttons are successively moved from a supply source and delivered to an orienting station before they are transferred into the clamping jaws. A pneumatic operating and control system is provided to implement the feeding and orientation of the buttons in timed relationship to operation of the sewing machine.

United States atent 1,940,229 12/1933 Rawnsley Inventors Walter A. Hoffsommer Ridley Park, Pa.; Howard A. l-lodgins, Newark, Del. Appl. No. 74,655 Filed Sept. 23, 1970 Patented Jan. 11, 1972 Assignee Enterprise Machine and Development Corp. New Castle County, Del.

BUTTON FEEDING AND POSITIONING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES 9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 112/113 Int. Cl D05b 3/22 Field of Search 1 12/104, 106,107, l10-114, 115

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,207,077 7/1940 Stott 112/113 2,609,773 9/1952 Nelson 112/254 3,343,508 9/1967 Pedersen et a1 112/113 3,382,824 5/1968 Bronfman... 112/113 3,483,833 12/1969 Conner 112/113 3,494,311 2/1970 Hopkins 112/113 3,499,405 3/1970 McKee et a1 112/113 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Assistant Examiner-George V. Larkin Attorney-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson ABSTRACT: This device automatically orients and positions sewthrough-type buttons in the clamping jaws of a highspeed button-sewing machine so that a button is properly positioned to be sewn during each sewing cycle. The buttons are successively moved from a supply source and delivered to an orienting station before they are transferred into the clamping jaws. A pneumatic operating and control system is provided to implement the feeding and orientation of the buttons in timed relationship to operation of the sewing machine.

PATENTEI] mu 1 B72 SHEET 2 UF 3 55 INVENTORS: WALTER A. HoFFsoMM ER am Howmau A. Houams BY I MMZML I ATTORNEYS PATENTED JAN] 1 I972 I 2 INVENTORS;

and HOWARB Manama ATTORNEY$ PATENTEDJANI 1 1972 3.633.524 SHEET k 0F 4 PRESSURE OURCE I20 g 121 INVENTORSI 7 1m WALTERA.HOFFSOMMEE.

and How/mm A. HODGNS Wadi, his

ATTORNEYS BUTTON FEEDING AND POSITIONING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES This invention relates generally to a device for feeding and positioning buttons in the clamping jaws ofa sewing machine, and more particularly, to a pneumatically controlled device for automatically positioning a properly orientated button in the clamping jaws of the machine so that the button is properly positioned to be sewn during the next sewing cycle.

Commercial button-sewing machines are normally sold with a button-clamping jaw supported in alignment beneath the needle and the clamping jaw is supported in such a manner as to be properly moved to align either two holes or four holes of a sewthrough button beneath the needle. The clampingjaws are spring biased toward each other and are raised above the workpiece at the end of each sewing cycle so that an operator may manually position a button in the clamping jaws. The clamping jaws are then lowered into position to maintain the button in position during the sewing cycle.

Various types of automatic button-feeding devices have been proposed to operate with this type of button sewing machine; however, these devices have not been completely satisfactory in that they are complicated, costly to manufacture and require frequent repair and maintenance. Also, these prior types of devices require the changing of a large number of parts and a complete readjustment of the operation of the parts when it is desired to change the size of buttons being sewn by the machine. Certain of these prior devices have parts which extend into the normal path of movement of the article on which the buttons are being sewn so that they interfere with the operator when moving the article from one location to another.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high-speed button feeding and positioning device for automatically delivering properly orientated buttons to the clamping jaws of a sewing machine which is relatively simple in construction, requires very little repair and maintenance, and may be easily adapted for use with different sizes of buttons by exchanging only a few parts.

In accordance with the present invention, the button feeding and positioning device receives a row of buttons from a supply source, properly orientates and positions the leading button on a transfer arm while one sewing cycle is being carried out, and then moves the orientated button into the clamping jaws at the end of the sewing cycle. The present button feeding and positioning device is produced as an attachment which may be easily applied to commercially available buttonsewing machines. The button-positioning portion of the device is supported entirely by and beneath the support arm of the clamping jaws and extends rearwardly of the needle so that it does not obscure the operator's view of the sewing operation and does not interfere with the proper positioning of the workpiece in preparation for the next button-sewing operation.

These and other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will appear from the description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is an isometric view looking at one side of a conventional button-sewing machine, illustrated in dash-dot lines, and with the present button feeding and positioning device applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but looking at the other side of the button-sewing machine;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view ofa portion of the sewing machine, shown in dash-dot lines, and illustrating the button feeding and positioning device of the present invention attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, at an enlarged scale, and being taken along the line 66 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat schematic plan view taken substantially along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

plan view taken along the line 55 in FIG. 8 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating the manner in which the leading button is pushed forwardly and placed on the transfer arm;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating the manner in which the transfer arm swings downwardly to release the button after it is moved into the clamping jaws;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a somewhat schematic diagram illustrating the pneumatic pressure control system which operates the button feeding and positioning device in the proper timed sequence; and

FIG. 12 is an isometric view looking upwardly beneath the removable and replaceable and replaceable button guide cover plate and illustrating the manner in which the row of buttons is guided from the spring chute conveyor so that the leading button is positioned in front of the pusher plate.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the button feeding and positioning device of the present invention is attached to a conventional button-sewing machine of the type sold by Union Special Machine Company and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,773, which may be referred to for the details of operation. However, it is to be understood that the present button feeding and positioning device may also be used with other types of button-sewing machines.

Generally, the sewing machine includes a base 15 having a forwardly extending needle bed 16 and a forwardly extending needle head support arm 17 generally overlying and spaced above the needle bed 16. A needle head 18 is pivoted on the forward end of the support arm 17 and supports a needle 20 for vertical reciprocation. The lower forward ends of buttonclamping jaws 20a, 20b are aligned on opposite sides of the needle 20 and are adapted to resiliently hold and grip a button, as indicated at B in FIG. 9, when the button is placed therebetween. The upper rear ends of the clamping jaws 20a, 20b are pivotally supported beneath a jaw support plate 21 (FIGS. 3 and 6) and are resiliently biased toward each other by a spring wire 22 which extends above the plate 21 and opposite ends engage the outer portions of the upper horizontal portions of the clamp jaws 20a, 20b.

The rear end portion of the support plate 21 is fixed on the forward end of ajaw support arm 23 which has a downwardly extending rear portion provided with a transverse web 23a. Support plates 24 are fixed to opposite sides of the rear portion of the support arm 23 and their lower ends are pivotally connected as at 25 (FIGS. 3 and 6) to upstanding clamp jaw positioning lugs 26. Conventional mechanism is provided in the sewing machine to impart the proper movements to the lugs 26 to shift the clamping jaws 20a, 20b and properly align the holes of the button with the needle, depending upon whether a two-hole or a four-hole button is being sewn.

A support rod 30 (FIGS. 3 and 6) is threadably supported at one end in the jaw support arm 23 and extends forwardly in a horizontal direction with a downwardly inclined forward portion in engagement with the horizontally positioned lower portion of a control rod 31. The upper end of the control rod 31 extends up into the needle head support arm 17 and is connected to a control lever, not shown which operates in a conventional manner to raise the clamping jaws 20a, 20b to the solid line position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 at the end of each sewing cycle. This control lever also operates to lower the clamping jaws into engagement with the article and to hold the button in position thereon during the sewing cycle, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 6. An adjustable spring 32 is positioned between the upper portion of the jaw support arm 23 and the lower portion of the needle head support arm 17 and normally urges the clamp jaws 20a, 20b downwardly toward the needle bed 16 to maintain the control rod 31 and the support rod 30 in engagement with each other.

The parts heretofore described are conventional parts of a commercial type of sewing machine for attaching buttons of the sewthrough" type to various workpieces, such as fabrics, article blanks, and the like. However, the jaw support arm 23 (FIG. 6) has been modified somewhat at its rear end in that the plates 24 have been added.

The button feeding and positioning device of the present invention includes a horizontally disposed transfer plate 35, the outline of which is best shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. 7. The rear portion of the transfer plate 35 is fixed to the lower surface of the transverse web portion 23a of the jaw support arm 24 (FIG. 6) and extends between the plate members 24. The transfer plate 35 extends forwardly and in spaced relationship beneath the jaw support arm 23 and is provided with a buttonreceiving opening 36, adjacent its forward end. A button-sizing insert ring 36a (FIG. 8) is removably supported in the button-receiving opening 36 and may be easily changed to accommodate the size of the button being sewn. As shown in FIG. 7, the major portion of the transfer plate 35 is positioned beneath the jaw support arm 23 and the clamp jaw support plate 21 and is provided with a portion which extends outwardly from the right-hand side of the needle head support arm 17, as illustrated in FIG. 1; to provide support for pneumatic operating cylinders, to be presently described.

A button pusher plate or slide 40 is supported for longitudinal sliding movement on the upper surface of the transfer plate 35 and is guided at its forward end in a saddle bracket 41. The lower end of the saddle bracket 41 is fixed on the upper surface of the transfer plate 35 and has a bridging portion extending above the pusher plate 40. The lower end of a support shaft 42 (FIG. 6) is fixed in the bridging portion of the saddle bracket 41 and its upper end is threadably supported in the jaw support arm 23. Thus, the forward end of the transfer plate 35 is supported in fixed relationship below the jaw support arm 23 so that it is raised and lowered when the jaw support arm 23 and the clamping jaws a, 20b are raised and lowered by the control rod 31.

A guide slot 43 (FIG. 6) is provided in the transfer plate and extends longitudinally beneath the pusher plate 40. The upper end of a shoulder screw 44 is threadably supported in the rear portion of the pusher plate and extends through the guide slot 43 to guide the rear portion of the pusher plate 40 when it is moved forwardly and rearwardly, in a manner to be presently described. One end of an operating level 45 is suitably connected to the shoulder screw 44 (FIGS. 6 and 7) and is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a suitable pivot screw 46 which is threaded upwardly into the transfer plate 35 and into a boss on a spring box, to be presently described. The lever 45 extends transversely beneath the transfer plate 35 (FIG. 7) and its opposite end is suitably connected to an upstanding pin 47 on the outer end of a piston rod 48 ofa pneumatic cylinder 50.

The cylinder 50 is supported beneath the transfer plate 35 by a support bracket 51 which is suitably secured to the lower surface of the transfer plate 35. Air under pressure is supplied to the pneumatic cylinder 50 by means of an air pressure control system, to be presently described, to at times move the piston 48 rearwardly, to the dotted-line position shown in FIG. 7, and to thereby move the pusher plate 40 forwardly. The leading button B is thus moved forwardly along the transfer plate 35 and is moved into the button-receiving opening 36 (FIG. 7). The row of buttons is guided downwardly onto the transfer plate 35 so that the leading button is positioned in front of the pusher plate 40 in a manner to be presently described. The pneumatic cylinder 50 is provided with an internal spring which returns the piston rod 48 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 7 as soon as the air pressure is released. Thus, the pusher plate 40 makes a forward stroke and then returns rearwardly to the solid line position shown in FIG. 7 so that it is again in position to push another button B forwardly at the proper time.

The row of buttons B is fed to the button feeding and positioning device of the present invention in a continuous row so that the leading button is always positioned in front of the pusher plate 40. A button guide support block 52 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is supported on the upper surface of the transfer plate 35 and one end of a cover plate 53 is removably secured thereto by a leaf spring 53a (FIG. 5) which is removably attached at opposite ends on pins supported in the block 52 and extending upwardly through the cover 53. The other end of the cover 53 is supported in a slot in a block 53b which is fixed on the transfer plate 35. Suitable button guides, to be presently described, are supported by the cover 53 to direct the buttons B downwardly in a row to a position where the leading button is located in front of the pusher plate 40.

One end of a spring chute conveyor tube 54 is held in position in the guide block 52 by the cover plate 53 and its other end extends to and is suitably connected to a suitable button supply source, such as a vibratory bowl feeder 55 (FIG. 1). As the buttons are fed upwardly by the vibratory bowl feeder 55, they enter the spring chute conveyor 54 and move downwardly to and through the guide block 52 so that successive leading buttons are positioned at the forward end of the pusher plate 40.

Although a vibratory bowl type of feeder is illustrated, it is to be understood that other suitable types of button-feeding supply devices may be used to feed buttons to the button feeding and positioning device of the present invention.

A substantially U-shaped transfer arm (FIG. 7) is supported beneath the transfer plate 35 and the free forward end of one leg is provided with an easily replaceable button support pad 61 having upstanding button-receiving pins 62 secured at their lower ends therein. A stem 61a (FIG. 6) extends downwardly from the pad 61 and is held in position in a bore in the transfer arm 60 by a setscrew, not shown. The pins 62 correspond in number with the holes in the buttons B being sewn. The pins 62 are properly aligned to correspond with the movement of the needle 20 and the holes in the button to permit a properly orientated button to drop down on the pad 61. The buttons are rotated so that they will move down into position on the pins 62, by means to be presently described.

The other leg of the U-shaped transfer arm 60 is bent upwardly (FIGS. 8 and 9) and is fixed, as by a screw 6011, on one end portion of a pivot bracket 63. The pivot bracket 63 is fixed on the forward end pivot shaft 64, the forward portion of which is slidably supported in the button guide support block 52 (FIG. 4) and extends rearwardly therefrom. The outer end portion of the pivot bracket 63 is provided with an arcuate slot 65 (FIG. 8) in which the forward end of a piston rod 66 is suitably connected. The piston rod 66 is operated by a pneumatic cylinder 67 which is suitably supported above the transfer plate 35 by a support bracket 70 fixed to the upper surface of the transfer plate 35 (FIG. 3).

The rear portion of the pivot shaft 64 (FIGS. 8 and 9) has a block 71 fixed thereto. A square shaft portion 72 extends out of one side of the block 71 and a round shaft portion 73 ex tends out of the other side of the block 71. The square shaft portion 72 normally rests on the upper edge portion of a spring box housing 74 (FIG. 8), the lower surface of which is suitably secured on the upper surface of the transfer plate 35. An integrally formed boss 75 (FIG. 9) extends outwardly from one side of the spring box housing to provide support for the pivot screw 46 which supports the medial portion of the lever 45, positioned beneath the plate 35.

The forward portion of the spring box housing 74 is provided with a downwardly inclined cam surface 76 and a plunger 77 is supported for longitudinal movement in the housing 74. The plunger 77 is normally urged to the forward position shown by a spring 78 (FIG. 10). A leaf spring 80 is suitably supported at its rear end on the upper surface of the transfer plate 35 and extends forwardly beneath the round shaft portion 73 to maintain the square shaft portion 72 in engagement with the upper surface of the spring box housing 74.

After a button B is properly orientated and positioned on the support pins 62, air under pressure is admitted to the pneumatic cylinder 67 by means of the air pressure control system, to be presently described, to move the piston rod 66 forwardly so that the button is moved into position between the clamping jaws 20a, 20b, as shown in FIG. 9. During this forward stroke, the transfer arm 60 is maintained in a horizonta] position by the square shaft portion 72 riding along the upper edge of the spring box housing 74 and the upper surface of the plunger 77, As soon as the button has been properly positioned in the clamping jaws, the square shaft portion 72 moves off of the forward end of the plunger 77 and the pivot shaft 64 is rotated by the leaf spring 80 and the round shaft portion 73. The button-holding leg of the U-shaped transfer arm 60 thus moves downwardly, as shown in FIG. 9, and the pins 62 move out of the holes in the button B.

The air pressure in the cylinder 67 is then released and the internal spring immediately returns the piston rod 66 and the transfer arm 60 to the rearmost position, shown in FIG. 8. During this rearward movement of the transfer arm 60, the square shaft portion 72 moves the plunger 77 rearwardly and engages and rides up the inclined cam surface 76 so that the pivot shaft 64 and the block 71 are rotated in a clockwise direction against the pressure of the leaf spring 80. As the square shaft portion 72 moves onto the upper surface of the spring box housing 74, the plunger 77 is released and moves back to its forward position, as shown in FIG. 8, while the transfer arm 60 is pivoted to its horizontal position and comes to rest with the pins 62 centered beneath the button-receiving opening 36 in the transfer plate 35.

In order to insure that the button B remains in position on the pins 62 as the transfer arm 60 is moved forwardly to position the button between the clamping jaws 20a, 20b, the rear end of a leaf spring 82 is fixed to the lower surface of the forward end of the transfer plate 35 (FIG. 6) and its forward end is positioned closely adjacent the clamping jaws 20a, 20b. The leaf spring 82 engages the upper surface of the button B as it is moved forwardly by the transfer arm 60 to maintain the button in position on the pins 62.

As the buttons B are delivered through the spring chute 54 and guided to a position in front of the pusher plate 40, their holes are aligned in various positions and they must be properly orientated when they are placed in the clamping jaws 20a, 2015. To this end, button-rotating means, in the form ofa rubber wheel or spinner 85, is supported for vertical movement into and out of engagement with the buttons as they pass through the insert 36a in the button-receiving opening 36 and are deposited on the forward end of the transfer arm 60. The spinner 85 is fixed on the lower end of a shaft 86 (FIG. 6) which is rotatably supported in a spinner housing 87 and has an impeller wheel 90 fixed to the upper end thereof. Air under pressure is directed through an opening in the housing 87 and against the impeller wheel 90 by a passageway 91 in the block 53b. An air supply line 91a (FIG. is connected at one end to the block 53b and is connected to the air pressure control system, in a manner to be presently described.

The spinner housing 87 is supported on the forward end ofa rocker arm 92 having integrally formed downwardly extending pivot legs straddling the saddle block 41 and pivotally supported thereon. The rear free end portion of the rocker arm 92 extends beneath a roller 93 (FIG. 6) which is supported between the upper ends of arms 94. The lower ends of the arms 94 are fixed on the rear portion of an adjustment plate 95 which is provided with a longitudinal slot and which is adjustably connected to the pusher plate 40 by an adjustment screw 96.

As the pusher plate 40 moves forwardly, the roller 93 moves along the upper edge of the rear portion of the rocker arm 92 and raises the forward end to the dotted-line position shown in FIG. 6 and the spinner 85 is raised above the button-receiving opening 36 in the transfer plate 35 so that a button may pass therethrough. Then, as the pusher plate 40 is moved to its rearmost position, the forward end of the rocker arm 92 is lowered so that air from the passageway 91 in block 53b engages the impeller wheel 90 to rotate spinner 85 as it is lowered onto and engages the upper surface of the button to thereby rotate it until the holes therein align with the pins 62 so that the button will drop down on the pins 62 and the pad 61, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Thus, the button-rotating spinner 85 is raised and lowered in response to movement of the pusher 40 and is rotated when it is lowered to become aligned with the air coming out of the block 521;. Since the spinner 85 is raised as the pusher plate 40 moves forwardly to move a button into the button-receiving opening 36 in the transfer plate 45, it moves out of alignment with the air passing through the block 5311 and the spinner does not rotate. As the pusher plate 40 is retracted, the spinner 85 is lowered and the air pressure rotates the impeller wheel 90 to properly orientate the button with the button-receiving pins 62 on the pad 61 at the forward end of the transfer arm 60.

The air pressure control system (schematically illustrated in FIG. 11) operates the cylinders 50 and 67 in the proper timed relationship to move the pusher plate 40 forwardly and deposit a button on the transfer arm 60 and then to move the transfer arm 60 forwardly to position the button in the clamping jaws a, 20b, The control system includes a pair of air control switches 100, 101 which are suitably supported on a support arm 102 (FIG. 2) which is in turn supported by a bracket 103 fixed on the base 15 of the sewing machine. The inner end of a control plate 104 is suitably connected to the clamp jaw support arm 23 and extends outwardly therefrom and beneath the control arms of the air switches 100, 101. When the clamp jaw support arm 23 is lowered, as during the sewing cycle when the clamp jaws 20a, 20b are in engagement with the workpiece, the switch is open and the switch 101 is closed. However, when the clamp jaw support arm 23 is raised at the end of a sewing cycle, as shown in FIG. 11, the control plate 104 closes the air switch 100 and opens the air switch 101. Thus, the cylinder 50 is operated to move the pusher plate 40 forwardly and position a button on the forward end of the transfer arm 60 while a previously positioned button is being sewn. The cylinder 67 is operated at the end of the sewing cycle so that the transfer arm 60 is moved forwardly to position the next button to be sewn in the clamping jaws 20a, 20b.

The other parts of the air pressure control system are preferably enclosed in a suitable housing 106 (FIG. 2). A pusher plate pressure regulator 107 having an air gauge 107a, a transfer arm pressure regulator 108 having an air gauge 108a, and a spinner pressure regulator 109 having an air gauge 1090 are supported in the housing 106 and extend outwardly from the front wall thereof. Each of the pressure regulators 107, 108 and 109 may be adjusted to provide the proper amount of air pressure to the respective cylinders 50, 67 and the spinner 85.

As schematically illustrated in FIG. 11, air under pressure is provided from a suitable supply source 110 and enters the air pressure regulators 107, 108 through a line 111. A line 113 connects the air pressure regulator 107 with one side of the air switch 100. The other side of the air pressure switch 100 is connected to a normally open pilot valve 115 by lines 116, 117. An adjustable flow control valve 118 is provided in the line 116. A line 119 is connected at one end to the pivot valve 115 and its other end is connected to the pneumatic cylinder 50 which controls operation of the pusher plate 40.

The pressure regulator 108 is connected to one side of the air switch 101 by a line 120 and lines 121, 122 connect the other side of the air switch 101 to a normally open pilot valve 123. An adjustable fiow control valve 124 is provided in the line 122. A line 125 connects the pilot valve 123 with the pneumatic cylinder 67 which operates the transfer arm 60. A line 126 connects the supply source 110 with the air pressure regulator 109.

As stated above, the cover plate 53 is supported on the block 52 for easy removal and supports suitable button guide means for directing the buttons downwardly onto the transfer plate 35 with the leading button positioned in front of the pusher plate 40. The button guide means is illustrated in FIG. 12 and includes a downwardly extending guide chute 130 which is suitably connected to the lower surface of the cover plate 53. The upper end of the chute 130 is adapted to receive the lower end of the spring chute 54 and the chute 130 tapers upwardly and inwardly from opposite sides so that the dimensions at its lower end correspond to the width and thickness of the button being sewn. A button guide channel 131 is also secured to the lower surface of the cover plate 53 and extends outwardly on opposite sides of the insert 36a in the buttonreceiving opening 36. The upper surface of the end portion of the guide channel 131 is curved inwardly as at 132, so that the spinner 85 may move downwardly onto the upper surface of the button. Thus, the leading button is located in the guide channel 131 and opposite the chute 130 so that it is positioned to be engaged by the leading end of the pusher plate 40 as it is moved forwardly.

In order to change the size of buttons being sewn, the cover plate 53 will be removed and replaced with a similar cover plate having the proper size of chute 130 and guide channel 131, the insert 360 will be changed to the proper size insert and a spring chute 54 of the proper size will be attached beneath the cover plate 53 and in the support block 52.

METHOD OF OPERATION Assuming that the sewing machine has just completed a sewing cycle and the control rod 31 raises the jaw support arm 23 and the clamping jaws a, 20b to the raised position shown in FIGS. I3 and 6, the control plate 104 is raised to open the normally closed air switch 101. As the air switch 101 is opened, air under pressure immediately operates the cylinder 67, passing through the lines 122, 121, 125 and the normally open pilot valve 123. When the cylinder 67 is operated, the piston rod 66 is moved forwardly to thereby move the transfer arm 60 forwardly so that the button is moved between the clamping jaws 20a, 20b, as shown in FIG. 9, pushing the previously sewn button out of the clamping jaws. The control shaft 64 then rotates as the square shaft portion 72 drops off of the forward end of the plunger 77. The free end of the transfer arm 60 is thereby moved downwardly and the pins 62 move out of the holes in the button, as shown in FIG. 9. As the pressure builds up through the flow control valve 124, the pilot valve 123 closes and the piston rod 66 is immediately withdrawn so that the transfer arm 60 moves back to a horizontal position with the button-receiving pad 61 positioned beneath the button-receiving opening 36 in the transfer plate 35, as shown in FIG. 8.

Thus, the transfer arm 60 is moved forwardly to position a button between the clamping jaws 20a, 20b and is then returned to its original position where it is properly located to receive the next button. A properly orientated button is thus automatically positioned in the clamping jaws 20a, 2011 at the end of each sewing cycle so that it is in the proper position to be sewn by the needle 20 during the next sewing cycle. The next sewing cycle is normally initiated by the operator as soon as the fabric is relocated where the next button is to be sewn.

When the next sewing cycle begins, the clamp jaw support arm 23 and the clamp jaws 20a, 20b move downwardly to hold the button against the fabric on the needle bed 16 while the button is being sewn. The control plate 104 is thus lowered out of engagement with the control arms of the air switches 100, 101 and switch 101 closes while switch 100 is opened.

Air under pressure then passes through lines 113, 116, 117, pilot valve 115 and line 119 to the pneumatic cylinder 50 to immediately move the piston rod 48 rearwardly, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7. This moves the pusher plate 40 forwardly to slide the leading button forwardly and into the insert 36a in the button-receiving opening 36 in the transfer plate 35. As the pusher plate 40 is moved forwardly, the roller 93 lowers the rear portion of the rocker arm 92 (FIG. 6) to raise the spinner 85 above the transfer plate, to the dotted-line position shown, so that the button may pass through the buttonreceiving opening 36 and onto the forward end of the transfer arm 60. As the pressure builds up through the flow control valve 118, the pilot valve 115 closes and the piston rod 48 is immediately withdrawn so that the pusher plate 40 is returned to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

As the pusher plate 40 is returned to the rearmost position, the spinner is lowered to the solid line position shown in FIG. 6 to rotate the button so that it moves down onto the pad 61 with the pins 62 penetrating the holes in the button. The button is then properly aligned for movement into the clamping jaws 20a, 20b when the sewing cycle is completed. Thus, the air pressure control system operates during the sewing cycle to move a button onto the transfer arm 60 and properly orientate it so that it is ready to be transferred into the clamping jaws upon completion of the sewing cycle.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

We claim:

1. In a button-sewing machine of the type having buttonreceiving clamping jaws, drive means for imparting a sewing cycle to said sewing machine and for automatically stopping the sewing machine upon completion of a single sewing cycle, a clamping jaw support arm supporting said clamping jaws on the forward end thereof and being pivotally supported on the sewing machine at its rear end, and means for raising said clamping jaws to an inoperative position upon the completion of a sewing cycle and for lowering said clamping jaws into engagement with the fabric on which the button is to be sewn during the sewing cycle; the combination therewith of button feeding and positioning means comprising a. an elongate button transfer plate supported beneath and in fixed spaced relationship below said clamping jaw support arm,

b. means for successively feeding a row of buttons onto a medial portion of said transfer plate,

c. said transfer plate including a button-receiving opening in the forward end thereof,

d. a pusher plate supported for forward and rearward sliding movement on said transfer plate,

e. means operable in response to the lowering of said clamping jaws at the beginning of a sewing cycle for moving said pusher plate forwardly to move the leading button of the row of buttons forwardly along the upper side of said transfer plate and into the button-receiving opening therein,

f. a transfer arm having a forward end with upstanding button-carrying pins thereon to receive a button passed through the opening in said transfer plate and being supported for forward movement to move the button into said clamping jaws,

g. means for imparting rotation to the button moved onto said transfer arm to align the holes in the button with said button-carrying pins, and means operable in response to the raising of said clamping jaws at the end of a sewing cycle for imparting forward movement to said transfer arm to move the button into said clamping jaws.

2. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said operator means (e) includes a pneumatic cylinder operatively connected to said pusher plate, and an air switch movable to an open position in response to the lowering of said clamping jaws at the beginning of a sewing cycle to permit air under pressure to actuate said pneumatic cylinder and move said pusher plate forwardly at the beginning of a sewing cycle.

3. In an apparatus according to claim 2 including a pilot valve connected in series between said pneumatic cylinder and said air switch and being operable to cut off the supply of air pressure to said pneumatic cylinder at a selected time after actuation thereof so that said pusher plate is moved rearwardly.

4. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said operator means (h) includes a pneumatic cylinder operatively connected to said transfer arm, and an air switch movable to an open position in response to the raising of said clamping jaws at the end of a sewing cycle to permit air under pressure to actuate said pneumatic cylinder and move said transfer arm forwardly at the end of a sewing cycle.

5. In an apparatus according to claim 4 including a pilot valve connected in series between said pneumatic cylinder and said air switch and being operable to cut off the supply of air pressure to said pneumatic cylinder at a selected time after actuation thereof so that said transfer arm is moved rearwardly.

6 In an apparatus according to claim 1 including means operable in response to forward movement of said transfer arm for lowering the forward end of said transfer arm to remove said button-carrying pins from the holes in the button after the button is positioned in said clamping jaws.

77 In an apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said transfer-armdowering means is operable in response to rearward movement of said transfer arm for raising the forward end of said transfer arm to a horizontal position.

8. In an apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said transfer-arm-lowering means comprises a pivot shaft fixedly connected at its forward end to said transfer arm and being supported for longitudinal sliding movement, means resiliently urging said pivot shaft in a rotational direction to urge said transfer arm downwardly, and cam means adjacent said pivot shaft and being operable to maintain said transfer arm in a horizontal position during the major portion of the forward movement of said transfer arm to release said pivot shaft at the end of its forward movement to permit said resilient means to rotate said pivot shaft and lower said transfer arm.

9. In an apparatus according to claim 8 including means operable in response to rearward movement of said transfer arm to raise the forward end of said transfer arm to a horizontal position. 

1. In a button-sewing machine of the type having buttonreceiving clamping jaws, drive means for imparting a sewing cycle to said sewing machine and for automatically stopping the sewing machine upon completion of a single sewing cycle, a clamping jaw support arm supporting said clamping jaws on the forward end thereof and being pivotally supported on the sewing machine at its rear end, and means for raising said clamping jaws to an inoperative position upon the completion of a sewing cycle and for lowering said clamping jaws into engagement with the fabric on which the button is to be sewn during the sewing cycle; the combination therewith of button feeding and positioning means comprising a. an elongate button transfer plate supported beneath and in fixed spaced relationship below said clamping jaw support arm, b. means for successively feeding a row of buttons onto a medial portion of said transfer plate, c. said transfer plate including a button-receiving opening in the forward end thereof, d. a pusher plate supported for forward and rearward sliding movement on said transfer plate, e. means operable in response to the lowering of said clamping jaws at the beginning of a sewing cycle for moving said pusher plate forwardly to move the leading button of the row of buttons forwardly along the upper side of said transfer plate and into the button-receiving opening therein, f. a transfer arm having a forward end with upstanding buttoncarrying pins thereon to receive a button passed through the opening in said transfer plate and being supported for forward movement to move the button into said clamping jaws, g. means for imparting rotation to the button moved onto said transfer arm to align the holes in the button with said buttoncarrying pins, and h. means operable in response to the raising of said clamping jaws at the end of a sewing cycle for imparting forward movement to said transfer arm to move the button into said clamping jaws.
 2. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said operator means (e) includes a pneumatic cylinder operatively connected to said pusher plate, and an air switch movable to an open position in response to the lowering of said clamping jaws at the beginning of a sewing cycle to permit air under pressure to actuate said pneumatic cylinder and move said pusher plate forwardly at the beginning of a sewing cycle.
 3. In an apparatus according to claim 2 including a pilot valve connected in series between said pneumatic cylinder and said air switch and being operable to cut off the supply of air pressure to said pneumatic cylinder at a selected time after actuation thereof so that said pusher plate is moved rearwardly.
 4. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said operator means (h) includes a pneumatic cylinder operatively connected to said transfer arm, and an air switch movable to an open position in response to the raising of said clamping jaws at the end of a sewing cycle to permit air under pressure to actuate said pneumatic cylinder and move said transfer arm forwardly at the end of a sewing cycle.
 5. In an apparatus according to claim 4 including a pilot valve connected in series between said pneumatic cylinder and said air switch and being operable to cut off the supply of air pressure to said pneumatic cylinder at a selected time after actuation thereof so that said transfer arm is moved rearwardly.
 6. In an apparatus according to claim 1 including means operable in response to forward movement of said transfer arm for lowering the forward end of said transfer arm to remove said button-carrying pins from the holes in the button after the button is positioned in said clamping jaws.
 7. In an apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said transfer-arm-lowering means is operable iN response to rearward movement of said transfer arm for raising the forward end of said transfer arm to a horizontal position.
 8. In an apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said transfer-arm-lowering means comprises a pivot shaft fixedly connected at its forward end to said transfer arm and being supported for longitudinal sliding movement, means resiliently urging said pivot shaft in a rotational direction to urge said transfer arm downwardly, and cam means adjacent said pivot shaft and being operable to maintain said transfer arm in a horizontal position during the major portion of the forward movement of said transfer arm to release said pivot shaft at the end of its forward movement to permit said resilient means to rotate said pivot shaft and lower said transfer arm.
 9. In an apparatus according to claim 8 including means operable in response to rearward movement of said transfer arm to raise the forward end of said transfer arm to a horizontal position. 